Speed-equalizing means for motor-vehicle transmission shafts



April 17, 1928. l

J. S. ALSPAUGH SPEED EQUALIZING MEANS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SHAFTS Filed Deo. 5, 1925 mw E WN www@ hum.

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JAMES s.ALsPA uGH 7 @VM vl @mm3/S lli Patented pr. 17, 1928.

JAMES S. AIJSP'AUGH., 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO.

SPEED-EQUALIZVING MEANSl 4M0'.l(JR-VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SHAITS.

l Application filed December 5, 1925. Serial No. 73,488.

This invention relates more especially to the driving and gear shifting means of automotive vehiclesand has for its main objectto'provide improved and simplified means for synchronizing as far as practicable the power to drive such vehicle is transmitted from the crank shaft or ly wheel thereon to the rear axle by the interposition of a clutch under the control of the driver and aI speed changing mechanism also under the control of, the driver.

Itwill be remembered that in such vehicles the drive shaft :is turned b v the rear wheelsdue to the momentum ot' the vehicle whenchanging speeds or by the gravity of they vehicle when the gears are in neutral and the vehicle coasting down hill. In this latter. case if thev hill be long the engine and clutch shaft are oftentimesstopped by shutting oil the power or left to run slowly lclutched together. But when the clutch is removed the clutch shaft is left free between the engine and drive shaft, hence the clutch shaft tends to stop or to rotate at a greater l speed according to circumstances thereby interfering more or less with the changing of the speed gears. My invention tends to reduce or prevent the difference between the speeds ofthese two shafts or permits or causes an equalization of the speeds of the two shafts when the clutch shaft is released In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is mainly a vertical section taken centrally and longitudinally through the i'ly wheel and clutch shaft illustrating my improved connection between the clutch shaft and drive shaft.

Fig. 2 is a view of one face of the frictional clutching device used in the construction.

Fig. 3 is a view ot half the same lfrom the line HIfFig. 2.

In the views 5 designates the power or crank shaft of the engine. said shaft having secured to its rear end the usual ily wheel 6. The character 7 designates the clutch member of the disk which under pressure oi a' spring hears on the ily wheel said member carrying a spider sleeve 8 having ailixed thereto a tubular shaft 9 mounted in line with the axis of the crank shait andifly wheel and extending into the transmission and speed changing gear case 10. The clutch disk is operated to apply and remove pressure by the usual spring (as aforesaid) and foot lever for the piirpose of operatively connecting the fly wheel with and disconnecting it from the clutch shaft 9. The rear end of the clutch shaft 9 is enlarged at 9 and provided annularly with transmission gear portion 11 and a clutch element 12. Journaled in the lower portion of the case 104is the tubular countershaft upon which are fixed toothed speed changing rims 13. 14 and 15 for transmitting reverse, low, and intermediate (or second) speeds res ectively, the gear 16 on said -countersha t being permanently engaged with the gear portion 11 of the clutch shaft 9 to give a reduced speed to the countershaft for the lower speeds and an oiiset gear 17 being provided as well understood to effect reverse.

The invention is embodied in the example herein'shown and described. the features of novelty being finally claimed.

Journaled in the case 10 in line with the axis of the clutch shaft 9 is the sliding gear shaft 18 that is secured in the usual manner to the forward end of the drive shaft,gsaid shaft- 18 being splined andcarrying slidable longitudinally thereon and rotatable therewith the sliding ears 19 and 20 (the latter having interna clutch teeth 20") for-cony nection respectively with the reverse and low gears 17 and 14, and intermediate and high gears 15 and 12. The sliding gears 19 and 20 are shifted into and out of engagement by means of yoke arms 21 and 22 each secured on a gear shift rod like that shown at 23, said rod being at-present more com- Amonly controlled by a hand lever operated by the driver ot' the vehicle as well understood. In the drawing a special construction of mechanism for shifting Said rods is partially indicated but such constructionis not a part of the subject of the 'present application for patent.l

According to my present invention as herein exemplified the forward end of the drive shaft 18 carrying the sliding gears en- -ters the rear end of the clutch shaft. 9 and is 24 upon which is therewith and a cylindrical external bearing engaging the interior of the enlarged rear end 9 of the clutch shaft 9. This sectional ring bearing is held in frictional engagement with the taperedl end vof the sliding gear shaft and the clutch shaft with a yielding pressure by means of a spring 26 in thel forward end of the tubular clutch shaft 9, said spring pressing upon the forward end of tube 27 having its opposite ends armed with rings 28 and 29, the ring 28 to take directly the pressure of the spring and the other rinfr 29 to transmit pressure to the friction rmg 25. lVithin the tubular clutch shaft 9 is a thrust bar 30'seated at its forward end against a seat in the forward end of the clutch shaft 9 and between the rear end of said bar 30 and the forward end of the drive shaft is a ball hearing 31 to hold the drive shaft in its proper position or prevent longitudinal forward shifting thereof.

The result of this mechanism is that the speed of the clutch shaft is equalized with that of the drive shaft and the speed changing gears kept moving thereby permitting the easy and. noiseless engagement of the shifting gears with the speed changing gear.

The forms of the parts can be changed without departing from the gist of the invention as claimed.

What l claim ist l. ln means of the hind described, the combination of a power shaft, a clutch shaft` a speed changing gear shift mechanism of the sliding ty e including a sliding gear shalt and a c etching means between Vthe sliding gear shalt and theclutchshai't in slipping relation te both shaftsu ln means .ol the hind described, thel combination or apower shaft, a elnteh shalt, a speed changing gear shift mechanism of the sliding' type including a sliding gear shaft, a clutching means between the sliding v gear shaft and the clutch shaft in slipping relation to both shalts and ineens exerting a yielding pressure en said .slipping clutch-y ing means.

iin means oil theV kind olescribeohthe combination ol ajpower shalt, a clutch shalt,

speed changing gear shirt mechanism the sliding .type including a sliding gear shaft, a slipping clutching means between the sliding gear shaft and the clutch 'shaft and a thrust bar between the sliding gear shaft and the clutch shaft. j f '65 4. In means of the kind described, the, v combination of a. power shaft,y a clutch shaft a speed changinggear shift mechanism of the sliding type including a sliding gear shaft, a'4 slipping clutching means between e0' the sliding gear shaft and the clutch shaft means exertinr a yielding pressure onsaid,y slipping clutc ing means and a thrust bar tween the sliding gear shaft and thev clutch shaft. e5 5. In means of the kind described, the combination of a drive shaft, a clutch shaft a speed changing gear shiftmechanism of lthe sliding type including a sliding gear* shaft, a slipping clutch means between the' 7o sliding gear shaft and the clutch shalt consisting of an expansihle ring-like member frictionally engaging the sliding gear shaft and means carried by the clutch shalt for yieldingly holding the same engaged with 'gn said sliding gear shaft. 6. ln means of the kind described, the combination ot drive shalt, a clutch shaft, a speed changing gear shiilt mechanism o Y the sliding type including a sliding gear @a shaft, a slipping clutch means between the l sliding gear shalt and the clutch shaft consisting of a ring-like member frictionalla` engaging beth the sliding gear shaft and the clutch shaft and means carried hy the clutch @5 shaft for yieldingly holding the same engaged with said sliding gear shalt.

7. ln means of the hind described, the combination of a drive shalt, a clutch shalt, a speed changing gear shalt mechanism ol mi the sliding vtpg/*pe including a' sliding gaar shalt, `a slipping clutch ineens between the sliding gear shaft and the clutch shalt consisting ol a tapered enpansible split ring-like member rictionally engaging the o5 slidingv ear shaft', and means carried by the clutch shalt lor yieldingly holdin the saine engaged with the sliding, gear sha t.

` JAMES S. ALSPAUGH. 

